- When do I prune Miscanthus giganteus?
This tall grass is a hybrid of Miscanthus sinensis and M. sacchariflorus and originates in Southeast Asia. It grows in a columnar shape and fountains forward toward the top. It is similar to bamboo in its design placement in the garden and can be used as a screen. It grows 10-15 ft. tall and its width is 3-5 ft. The hardiness zone for it is zones 5 to 9. It likes sun to part sun and medium moisture.
Pruning the grass can be done with hand secateurs although this is tiring. Better is a sharp bladed lopper or electric hedge trimmer. The grass can be left with its brown foliage over the winter to provide cover for birds and cut back in early spring when new growth starts to show at ground level. Miscanthus giganteus is deer resistant.
This grass has been used in agriculture as a biofuel. Its attributes include ability to grow on marginal soil, has low fertilizer needs, is water efficient, and has a high yield of carbon sequestration. Another use is as a building material.
Sources
https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/31968
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/miscanthus-an-environmental-choice-for-marginal-lands
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